President Keel says enrollment continues to rise in state of university address
By Rakiyah Lenon | Managing editor
Augusta University’s President Dr. Brooks Keel reflected on the university amid the past year. (photo by Rakiyah Lenon)
Dr. Brooks Keel, President of Augusta University, delivered his State of the University Address on April 16, 2021. Hundreds watched Dr. Keel’s remarks virtually as the speech was streamed live that afternoon.
Dr. Keel spoke on the future of Augusta University and presented a slideshow of data and plans for the upcoming years.
“It certainly has been a year for our university,” he said, “but it’s also been an exciting year because of what I think it does in terms of setting up what our future is going to look like.”
The university has held high enrollment numbers in recent years. During the address, it was shown that this upcoming fall semester is predicted to hold a similar trend as enrollment rises 2.8 percent on average from the previous year.
The AU president shared the fiscal year 22 appropriations with funds reaching multiple areas of the university contingent upon the governor’s signing of the budget.
“When that happens, we will have additional resources to move Augusta University forward,” he said.
A slide was shown displaying the ideal funding distribution to several areas of the university. (photo by Rakiyah Lenon)
He also introduced the plans for the new Health Sciences Building as well as the expansion of the doctoral program in Computer and Cyber Sciences.
“That will gives us the graduate programs we need there and that’s just the beginning,” he said.
Dr. Keel also stated that plans for expansion of the university by allowing for online courses to be implemented within the upcoming years.
“By the year 2025, Augusta University will have every undergraduate course offered, which can be taken either in-person or online, every semester,” he stated.
Dr. Keel also spoke of Augusta University’s role in the pandemic last year, including in the development of COVID-19 tests.
“[I’m] very proud of all the work we’ve done with regard to COVID-19 testing,” said Dr. Keel.
He thanked those in the medical field for their work and discussed hopes moving forward.
“I think we can harness that excitement as a university and really chart a course for where we’re going to be going for the next three to five years,” he said.
The link to view the address in its entirety can be accessed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4P2FtCV615o.
Contact Rakiyah Lenon at RLENON@augusta.edu.
